Artificial larynx



Oct. 2.0, 1936. v 5. w. BURCHETT 2,058,212

.ARTIFICIAL LARYNX l Filed* Dec. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY)Nl/Enron G. W BURCHETT oet. 20, 1.936. I W; BURCHETT n ARTIFI C IALLARYNXI f Filed Dec. 5, 1954 2 sheets-'sheet 2' FG N /NvE/vrok G. WBURCHETT 0mm M ATTORNEY' i' George w. Buchen, Peekskill; N.`Y.,..assigor.itd` Belli` Telephone Laboratories, incorporated, v Y i A nNew York,1l\T."Y :a corporation offNewfYork' :r1 ,i n Applicationi'December f5, 1934;Serialxl'o.'156g04'1 m 5-Cllzimsl (0193-4)L jinvention lrelaiest'o an arti'cial larynx',4 glei-likemeanslcbviating.the;needzoraaccurate and;:more"particularly, to articialflarynx :of=the` posticnsiingnofV the; diaphragm orfr'igid? connection electricaltype.- ff thereof1 to-thearmaturei A1in:` objectzofA this invention is.to sirnplifysand `'Afrrn'lre complete vunderstandingvof- .thisfinvemimprove. VtheTstruoil'ue offuamarticial larynx.tion"mllgbelderivedrfromithe' detailed description l'i ifArfurther?object' istofimprove the operating which follows; takeninlcorrunction.with; the characteristics of anrarticial larynx.accompanyingzzdrawings;fwherein: e 2 '"A Vfeature-of this inventioncomprises'zlprovidv:Figiisra'side"elevationalviewofran:artiiicial ing achamber `on= one side "of the llarynxv tone larynxembodying *thisinvention,approximately 10': generatingfmeansfwith afvariable sizeoutlet or' normal-size; i n l opening -fwhereby the pitchz of thezlarynktone" .fFig.12 is an enlarged,icrossisectional-.viewof1 the mayfbevaried.` LL" A: devicefof'Figf-l: v l

Another :feature ycomprises.fmanually :operable .:-'Fi'g.r3fisvan`en`larged viewof thedevice offrF-igl: 1f means :for varying?the area; of" t'heopenlingifrom along;v :thevliney 3 -3 q thereof,4'with the'r front'- 'coverlsthe'chamber; i y; y Y orzzcapremovedrf- P5/Still- :another 'feature comprises manuallyroperfFigA:'isramfenlargdView :0f` the device; off Fig.- 1 able means for-Varyingthefarea''offtheoperiim.; alonggth- 1111211474 heI'eOf-r'ff: f c fromthe chamber,v Whichcontrols, alsoj' the'L-cur-- .:Figr S=anc1511argedpiliers'.v the-ydevicezofi Eig-.fl rentpcircuit of--e1ectricahmeansr for factuatingfa; along-fthe;lineage#thereoL- jwiththe 'case for: vibratgable'larynx tone@producingmemben"v housing;removed; "f t A further feature comprises a piston type da@ .f-Fgf'f:isjan-enlargedfview of thedevice of Fig.V 1 phragm for @Ln-artificiallarynx havingiafpianar taken along theffline 6--6'-there0-;and-with1-themember, preferably' of waterfproof; *aire-proof, frontcoverfandcaseremovveck` y flexible materiali reinforcedY over .a' portion- :ofits: 1- Fig '-7 -iS avSQGtiQn'l VeW'G ilhegdevie, 0f Fgf-'l' g5; areaYand supportedso: that the .reinfcrcedfportion taken'along the .lnea- 7Cfiif-grs and f5 moveslikea pistonwhenvibrated.4 -f YvFig.iisanenlargeflvleW of'ithefdeviCe-of--Fia 1 Yet another. featureYcomprises connecting: lan tken'ralllg-the* une 38rthe1e0fl1dwith theartinciarflarynxzdiaphragmfandanamnaturefof? fronti cover-andcase-remoyed: 4; electricalmeans for actuating the rdiaphragm,.This'invemlonlembodledf-n' afnielect'ncal' al" 301 through-means`obviating the Ineed' for "accurate tmcfallmynx deslg'ntedgenera'ny'azm:00mgb? positioning'off the diaphragm with reference .to pr1smg-a'-c3'sf'Or housmg' la"meta'lframe mem* the electrical means rorf'or'" fastening"the diaber'ufiafnd@'mmffcovrrolap member-*lahm* Phragmrand amaturerigidly together. ng-`af enma1#Cylindricalftubular'extensin "I4sun-other features wiu be 1 evident from 'che engaged byq *Sofi rubbertubular member l5, 33a detulled.V description'Which"fappearsfhereinafter. adapted-"fol"msetmnln'thefmouthof'aruser 0f55 *A preerred'embodiment of this irwerrtioncom-` theflalfynxprises'acasinghaving an Aopenenclsupporting- A- larynx'tonef'plroducmg member01' da' ardiaphragm, andi-a ichambencontainineleotri-1 phrag-m '5iSSuPPQrted-at its Peripheral-Portion cal'irieansV lfor"actuatingthemdiaphragm." 'The against: the-framemember b'ythe fTQ1t1C0Ve1` 40:.casing :contains:anfapertureror outlet for the Whihfis provided-With aninternally threaded, 40*

chamben'ivariableinsize by ainanually operable Outer :flange prtnlTengaging with the AeX- closure member, regulated in position'byairiger temally'rthleded Portion 'fofhe frame `rmemmember or buttonwhich:alsoicontrolsthecurber. The 'diaphragm COIIIL'JISB'1)1e`e1'abllf, a rent'circuit of whe electrical iactuating'means; crcular,1p1anar,f21bricmember'y I main-:proof andV 45; The` diaphragm comprises, preferably,arplanar water-proof;for'instancaof oiled silk; Itis re- 45 member of fwater-proof, "aireproof, 'flexible' ma'- inforcedover the; 'greaterportion voi? its'v central terial-,f`for instance, a `fabric, having'-afportion' of area,t preferablmf by. .ai pairvr of discs` 20 eofulightitsiarea reinforced;preferablyby. agpairzsoff'discs weight,corrosion-resistant@materiaL such ,as of'light, corrosion resistantmetal, for instance,l aluminum 'or -duraluminythe vnon-reinforced por-Y507 aluminum'origanyaluminumifalloy,gtheunonerein-` tion:2lprovidingaexiblesurrounm whereby 50 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 21211:. .f

forcedportion providingy a flexible surround :for

ther reinforced portion'= Wherebythe lattexvis, free toymove as a pistonwhen vibrated; *.-The-electricalmeans f comprises, preferably, anarmature.

the reinforedwportion fis freertofmove'as'a piston whenfyibrated. Theperipheral;portion 22 of` the diaphragm .is :mounted fbetweenexa: pairof phenol fiber vvsriaslrersu13, Vwhichplike Y'thexdiscs 1,20, are

secured;l toj themember 15149.; in: any.-rsuii:able.'man-y Y annularportion 28, a plate or disc member 29,., and a plurality of spacers orseparators 30, the" portion, member and spacers being fastened" togetherby screws 5U. portion and the plate member' latter by screws 3| is an'elec Y, ture 32. This structure comprises apaii" of cores Intermediatethe annular 33, a magnetic plate 34 connectingon'el'endiofi each core,and an energizing winding in the form.

of a coil 35 on each core, the coils being connected together at 36. Anarmature 31, of magnetic iron, is pivotally supported. at one end onlscrew-adjustable trunnions 38, carried on the undersurface 39 of theportion 28. A reversely bent metal spring 40 is secured at one end-tothe armature by rivets 4| and engages at its other and free end 42 withthe surface 39. The spring 40 holds the armature in spaced relation tothe pole-pieces and acts 'to return the ar-i mature to its originalposition after it'v has been attracted to the pole-pieces upon theiiow`of current through the coils 35. A sheet 43 ofcompressible material,such as cork, is supported' on the coils and serves to limitthemove'ment ofthe tact between the spring 44 and the member 48 broken,but upon the armatures returnir'igtol its' normal` position, the contactis again closed.` n The armatureand diaphragm are coupled together bytoggle-like means. The armatures upper surface 54 is provided with arecess 55 to receive a small, spherical member' 56 which is held in therecess by a plate member"51 secured to the armature, for'instance,'bythe screwl 58, and provided with a recess 59 to receive"`a"por tion ofthe member 51. A short. rod 60 is `connected at one end to thermember 51and atfits other end toa similarly shaped spherical member lil'lheldv ina recess 62 defined by aholl'ow member 63, having a threaded extension64Y projecting through the center of thejdiaphragm 'and securedtheretoby the clamping nut -65. lThe` spherical members are adapted to moveYfreelyor to swivel intheir recesses and, with the connecting rod 60,constitute-an effective," although loose, connection between thearmatureand diaphragm thatpermits mounting the diaphragm ontheframemembe'r without the necessity of accurately positioning it withreference-to' the armature.

An elongatedmetal springmember 66is secured to the surface 3'9, forinstance, by'the screw 61, and insulated from it' the insulatir'igwashers 68. 'Ihe member 66V extends Idownwardly toward the Wall portion21 ofthecase, an out-- enredo-imei griet "st'ruc-A Wardly curved portion69 being adapted to be engaged by an inwardly movable member 10terminating at one end in an insulating member 1| and at the other endin a button-shaped member 12 adapted to be engaged by a finger of theuser of the larynx. The member 10 is guided in its movement by thesleeve or extension 13 in the side wall portion 14 of the case.

Supportedon the disc member 29, is a crank member 11, pivotally mountedon the disc by a screw member 18, and normally occupying the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 5 and as .indicated by the dotted line of Fig.4. The memb er 11 is provided with an enlarged end portion 119. Whileshownas circular, the portion 19 may, ,like the aperture 26, be of anyother desired shape. The member 11 is retained in its normal positionAfbyna'helical :spring 80, at one end engaging the arm,y 8| l of thecrank at 82, and at its other end being secured to the pin or rivet 83attached to the disc member. A stop or lug 84 projects from the discmember and is engaged by the arm 85 of the crank. 'I'he crank is causedto turn on its pivotal support when the finger actuatable member 10 ispushed inwardly, the insulating member 1I bearing againstthe springmember 66, and forcing it against the end portion 86 ofA the crank arm85 to cause the crank arm 8| to move to the left and to occupy as itsextreme positionv that indicated by the broken line of Fig. 4.y In thebroken line position, the aperture 26 is entirely closed. Of course, byadjusting the extent to which the member 10 is pushed in- Wardly, theiextent to which the effectivearea or size of the aperture 26 is variedmay be controlled. It has been found that, 'by varying the effectivesize ofthe opening connecting the chamber 25 andthe atmosphere outsideof the case, the pitch ofr the larynx tone may be effectively varied.

The disc member is recessed at 81 to permit in- Ward movement of thecurved portion 69 -of the member 66, and at 15 so that the member 41.

may be adjusted with a tool inserted through the aperture 26. 69 isseparated from and is out of contact with the crank arm 85. When,however, the member 10 .is pressed inwardly sufficiently for it to forcethe portion 69 into contact with the crank member, thev electricalcircuit for the larynx is completed. This circuit is from the 'battery88, which may be carried concealed on the person of the user, conductor89 of the cord 90, conductor or lead 9| electrically connected to themember 66 the member 66, member 11, frame member I2, spring member 40,armature 31, spring member 44, member 41, support 49, conductor or lead92 to .one of the coils 35, coils connection 36 to the,

other coil 35, conductor or lead 93 to the other conductor 94 of thecord, to the battery. When this circuit is completed, the armature willbe attracted toward .the pole-pieces, the contact between the members44, 41 will be broken, thereby causing the energizing current to cease,and the armature, under the influence of the spring 40, to return to itsoriginal position. These operations will continue as long as the contactis maintained between the members 66 and 11, the armature movementscausing vibration of the diaphragm and the production of a larynx tone,the pitch of which may be varied by varying the effective' area. of theopening 26 by forcing the member 1|) farther inwardly against the member66. When the pressure isV removed from the member 10, the resiliency ofthe spring member 66returns itto its original position.

In its initial position, the portion 'I'he cord 90 is brought into thelarynx through the bushing of insulating material secured to the frameI2 by screws 96, and the case I I is held in place on the frame byanother screw 91.

In use, the larynx I0 is held in the hand of the user with one finger inengagement with the member 1I), the mouth tube I5 being inserted in theusers mouth. As described hereinabove in detail, actuation of the member'I0 closes the electrical circuit for the device and causes theproduction of a tone by the diaphragm, which tone is introduced into theusers mouth through the tube and whose pitch may be varied by adjustmentof the effective area of the opening 25 in the case. Upon introductionof the tone into his mouth cavity, the user positions his lips, teethand tongue and shapes the mouth cavity as he would if he were able tospeak naturally, and, thereby, modulates the tone to produce articulatesounds or speech.

While this invention has been disclosed with reference to a specificembodiment thereof, it will be understood that it may be embodied inVarious forms without departing from the scope of the invention, whichis to be considered as limited, therefore, by the appended claims only.

What is claimed is:

1. An articial larynx comprising a case, a frame, a front cover having alarynx tone passage, a diaphragm mounted between said frame and saidcover, said case, frame, cover and diaphragm dening air chambers onopposite sides of the diaphragm, said case having an opening thereinconnecting one chamber with the atmosphere outside the larynx, and meanssupported on said frame within said case and adjacent said opening forvarying the effective size thereof.

2. An artificial larynx comprising a case, larynx tone-producing meansin said case secured against movement at and around its entireperiphery, said case forming a chamber on one side of the tonegenerating means and having 'an connecting the vchamber with theatmosphere,

and nger-actuatable means for varying the effective size of said openingwhereby the pitch of said tone may be varied, said nger-actuatable meanscontrolling the current circuit for said electrical means.

4. An artificial larynx comprising a case, larynx tone-producing meansin said case, said case forming a chamber on one side of the tonegenerating means and having an opening leading to the atmosphere, andmeans for varying the effective size of said opening whereby the pitchoi the larynx tone may be varied, said means comprising a crank member,one arm of which is adapted for movement relative to and across theopening to vary the effective size thereof, and the other arm of whichis operated upon by a nger-actuatable member whose position iscontrolled by the user from outside the case.

5. An articial larynx comprising a case, larynx tone-producing meansincluding a diaphragm and electrical means for actuating the diaphragm,said case forming an air chamber on one side of said tone means andhaving an opening connecting the chamber with the atmosphere, andnger-actuatable means for varying the size of said opening whereby thepitch of the tone may be varied, an initial movement of saidfnger-actuatable means under finger pressure closing the current circuitfor said electrical means and further movement varying the size of saidopening.

GEORGE W. BURCHEI'I'.

